Sufficient quality sleep and alignment of internal biological clocks is vital for optimal health and performance. The Australian Football League (AFL) is one of the largest growing sports industries in Australia and New Zealand with annual revenues reaching a billion dollars. AFL athletes follow strict schedules in season for training and competitions which require alterations to habitual sleep patterns. With research increasingly uncovering the negative outcomes associated with disruptions to these processes, there is a need to increase our understanding of how individual variability could be impacting recovery and performance in elite sports. Methods: This study examined the relationships between multiple facets of sleep-wakefulness (i.e., circadian timing, sleep patterns, and well-being), and performance variables in AFL players during peak season. Questionnaire data was collected using the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire, Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, Profile of Mood States and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale. Actigraphy combined with daily sleep diaries were used to gather objective sleep data over a period of two weeks. Results: Preliminary results show that sleep and circadian parameters differed significantly between individuals and were correlated with measures of well-being and recovery. Conclusion: This study has uncovered the large individual variability that can be observed amongst AFL players and highlights the need to take sleep and circadian factors into account. This is of critical importance to elite athletes and coaching teams, who are looking for marginal gains.
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